Knox artist having her work showcased tomorrow night in Louisville gallery

By C.J. GREGORY/Staff Writer

On the outside, the Snyder home appears nearly like every other house on the Fort Knox street, with a brick exterior, a few items on the small front porch, and some toys in the side yard.

But on the inside, the walls are decorated with paintings from artists around the world, including some Marianthe Snyder has never heard of.

While her home could be considered an art gallery by many standards, Snyder will be featured this Friday night in a real art gallery during the Last Friday Gallery Hop in Louisville.

Aside from the painting by knowns and unknowns hanging on her walls, there are also some Snyder originals splashed throughout the house, although she says most of her impressionistic originals tend to hang in her small studio or in the basement.

“Putting them up is like looking into a mirror,” she said.

As an artist since her youth, when she and her family would all paint together at an aunt’s home, Snyder has had the opportunity to create scenes from around the world thanks to her decision to trek around Europe for a while after graduating from high school, and later with her husband, Maj. Michael Snyder, during their travels as part of his Army career.

“I’ve been to more than 40 countries,” Marianthe said. “Anywhere in Europe, I’m inspired by.”

Today, as much as she would like to paint, say, an original scene outdoors, having two young girls at home doesn’t facilitate that very well.

“I usually paint from a photograph,” she said, but added that in the course of her work, sometimes the photo gets lost.

“Eventually I don’t even look at the photo anymore,” she said of her work.

Many of her paintings are landscapes — Tuscany and the Greek isles are her most inspiring — and she’s even begun to paint what her impression of the Kentucky Derby looks like on race day.

But there is one type of picture she absolutely refuses to paint.

“I won’t do portraits for people,” she said. “They won’t be exact, they’ll be impressionistic and my interpretation.”

Most of her work begins at night, Marianthe said, when her girls, Lydia, 3, and Marilyn, 1, are fast asleep. Before becoming a mom, she used to paint up to three or four hours at a time. But things have changed.

“Since the girls, I paint in 10-minute intervals,” she said, adding that if both girls are awake and not really interested in cooperating that day, the whole family gets involved.

“In that case, everybody paints,” she said.

Seeing her daughters interested in the arts at such a young age is a bonus for her, she said, because parents want their children to follow in their footsteps.

“It’s natural to see them want to do it,” she said. “They both really like it.”

Marianthe said her husband enjoys her painting, although whenever they move he jokingly asks how many canvasses they’re going to need to move, too.

“I usually keep about 50-60,” she said. “I can’t sell them as fast as I paint them.”

But for her it’s not really about making money, she said. Painting is simply something she’s always loved to do.

That said, she’s sold her paintings to spouses clubs and at art bazaars, and other events on post, and even had a couple of shows in Kansas City before the family arrived at Knox.

In January, she and her family went on one of the trolley hops that the City of Louisville sponsors on the first and last Fridays of each month. After showing her work to someone at Blue Velvet — a shop that features artwork and antiques on Frankfort Avenue in the city’s Crescent Hill area — she was selected as a featured artist and will display her work there tomorrow night.

In addition, Marianthe will likely be on hand at the gallery creating new work.

“I plan on taking an easel so people can see me work,” she said, adding that art buyers like to make that personal connection. “They like to meet the artist.”

Even though the family will soon make another move — this time to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.—Marianthe said she’ll likely continue to paint for the rest of her life.

In fact, there’s only one time she could imagine not picking up a brush.

“When I stop breathing,” she said.

Art by Marianthe

News and Events

The article below was featured in two local papers in Hardin county Kentucky.

Look for Marianthe and her work at the upcoming (Nov.3rd and 4th 2007)

On Saturday May 9th 2009 at the Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth Kansas, Marianthe will be hosting a Charity Art Auction for Orphans in need through

Many local and national artist will be participating, please check back with us to see list of participating artist. It will be a night of fun, wine, cheese and art, but best of all it will help little one's who truly need a helping hand.

This coming Spring...An ART Auction to benefit orphans through Love's Reach International, Will be held on Saturday March 6th 2010 at the Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth ,KS...please check back for more details or contact us for more information.....

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Marianthe will be hosting an art auction to benefit Wounded Warrior Project on Friday the 2nd of November 2012, at the American Legion Post 11 in Florence Alabama. Many local and National Artist will be donated their artwork along wth Marianthe to help show appreciation to our Wounded Warriors who have sacrificed so much. For more information contact Marianthe. EVENT PAGE-CLICK HERE PLEASE